The invention of the odometer over time The Odometer Description of the device The Term “Odometer” was first referred to as the “Hodometer”, this term was derived from the Greek word ‘Hodos’ which means distance and ‘metron’ which means measure according to the greek dictionary [1]
These days the odometer is a useful yet forgettable device in other words this device is basically taken for granted. Cars, planes, ships, all automobiles have this handy gadget as millions know what it displays “Distance”. Hence the definition the odometer is nothing but a distance measuring device.
The odometer is an ancient invention that has been brought down to the millennium as each decade brings a huge technological advancement to the futuristic odometer. Back in the old days when people lived in the analogue world the odometer was a simple instrument consisting of a row of wheels with digits written on them. Before the analogue world the odometer used to be operated with mechanisms consisting of rotations of wheels and counting of pebbles. We are in the digital world hence the odometer had been modified at its best as the present days odometers are made digital with analogue readings i.e. dials or digital odometers with digital readings. Billions know what the odometer is but only a few know how it works. Although the common problem of the odometer is still not solved till this very day. An odometer could not measure infinite distance, unfortunately it still can’t. Odometers in olden days had limited pebbles for a particular distance to measure the distance even digital odometers cannot read distances beyond 999,999.Although the problem was compensated as engineers suggested starting the odometer to ‘0’, once the odometer reaches 100,000 but this still is not a perfect solution.
Below are images of an ancient odometer and a modern odometer
Figure 1:- An electronic odometer wit digital display
Figure 2:- an ancient odometer
Need for the Device According to my research I found out that it was probably after the invention of the wheel that people started thinking “How far will this wheel go?” A very vague yet true image of this is practically the time when chariots and horsemen would travel from countries to countries when maps of the world were in the making all individuals had one question as to how far be they desired place or how far are they going. Astrology, science and physics made one common need for man and that was need of information of distance. Hence the odometer was developed, according to the Encyclopedia Britannia ‘Vitruvius’ was the first individual to actually come up with the idea of a distance measuring device around 15 BC. The idea was in fact brought to reality by ‘Archimedes of Syracuse’ during the First Punic war. As Misa also explains in his book “Leonardo to the Internet” development in technology has been taking place over the whole place. Meanwhile people from the far-east started growing the need to measure distance, thus ‘Chang Heng’ successfully invented an odometer that had a figure that struck a drum as each 0.5 km went by to measure distance.
Technological advancements became a global phenomena as each nation tried to invent something revolutionary useful. Blaise Pascal built a prototype for the odometer, other Englishmen like the military engineer Thomas Savery also contributed in inventing the odometer which was designed for ships.
Due to industrial revolution and modernization Misa explains that each country was developing modern ways to improve the economy of the country. America soon came out with its own odometer also known as the “Simple Odometer” which was invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1775.
Canada also came up with a device that measured the mileage driven in 1854 as Samuel McKeen was fortunate to have his name in history books as the designer of the early version of the odometer. We can observe that the interest for building an odometer to fit its purpose has been passed through the globe from Asia to Europe to America. Development of military equipment, time zones, transportation methods the need for a distance measuring device was not a need but a necessity. Locomotion and commuting requires distance covered and in order to know the distance covered we need a device that measures the distance covered, hence the need of the odometer. The inventors of the Odometer overtime Vitruvius
Figure 3 Vitruvius's Odometer
According to Vitruvius's book “The Ten Books on Architecture” which was translated by Morris Hicky Morgan, in chapter ten we get an in sight view of the odometer also known as the “The Hodometer”.
In the first part of the chapter Morgan describes the odometer as useful invention as it enables us to measure distances while we are on the move on any automobile, where Vitruvius came up with the idea of having each wheel of a carriage four feet in diameter “so that if a wheel has a mark made upon it,……. half feet on reaching that mark at which it began to revolve” [2]
In the following three paragraphs Vitruvius further talks about the mechanism of the odometer. As the carriage tends to travel a mile a stone rings a bell and is collected in a bronze vessel set underneath the carriage. Thus as the end of the journey one can count all the stones and will know how far they have travelled.
Vitruvius through Morgan clearly explains the significance of the odometer as he further describes how the odometer can be used for various automobiles as he mentions in his extract that the same mechanism is required for the odometer to work on the ships. In the end Vitruvius quotes “I have described how to make things that may be provided for use and amusement in times that are peaceful and without fear” [2]
Chang Heng
Figure 4 Odometer cart from a stone rubbing of an Eastern Han Dynasty tomb
The people of China believed that Zhang Heng of the Han Dynasty invented the first odometer. The distance measuring device was commonly used by the Romans and Han-Chinese empires at about 78- 139 AD According to sources like Wikipedia the odometer was also known as the “jì lĭ gŭ chē' (記里鼓車)”.
According to the Stone and Webster journal Zhang Heng’s invention was later on known as a “Measure Mile Drum Chariot”. The function of the drum chariot is mentioned in the lines “ It has a single pole and two wheels. On the body of the chariot………………would be more correct from the mechanical point of view.” [3] Although the mechanism described in the text above is somewhat similar to the mechanism that Vitruvius also introduced in order for the odometer to function.
Thomas Savery Thomas Savery was an Englishman and served as a military engineer. Industrial revolution was growing everywhere and he also believed in inventing a priceless invention for his countries. His work as an engineer involved a lot of development in ship building as he successful in building modifications to steam engines. Over time Thomas Savery was successful in inventing an odometer used in ships but the invention was merely unique it was rather a modification to Vitruvius’s idea of an odometer for ships as discussed above. Benjamin Franklin
Figure 5
Benjamin Franklin was known for inventing the odometer also known as “Simple Odometer” which was used to measure postal routes. Benjamin was known for his multiple inventions likebifocals, a glas harmonica, lightning rod, a wood stove and an odometer. It was in 1775 when he was serving as a Postmaster General, he came up with the idea that the post office could save time if they knew the shortest possible routes to their required destination hence the job is done better and faster. Samuel McKeen Misa describes in his book “Leonardo to the Internet” that globalization was rapidly taking its course and so was industrial revolution as each continent felt that technological advancement was a competition. China, Europe and America were building odometer and then Canada brought out its own odometer in 1854 through Samuel McKeen of Nova Scotia.
Some people believe that “The odometer is invented by Samuel McKeen in Canada” [4] as stated in the book Technology and Society
His invention basically helped the car industry as the odometer was designed to measure distance cars travelled. Benjamin Franklin’s inventions and scientific approach Inventions of Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin was an outstanding inventor. He was known for invention lightning rod, the glass harmonica, the Franklin stove, bifocal glasses, flexible urinary catheter and the odometer. Franklin never patented his inventions as he once stated in his autobiography "... as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously."[5] Benjamin Franklin made a lot of contributions to the people of America through his knowledge and inventions. The American Philosophical Society was founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743. Benjamin’s main idea of this society was to merge ideas of other scientists and engineers that are out there and theories and discoveries would be discussed and researched on.
Figure 6 In 1752, Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous kite flying experiments and proved that lightning is electricity
Benjamin Franklin’s scientific approach of the odometer
Figure 7 Iron, brass, and paint; H. 1 2/3 in. (4.1 cm), W. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm), D. 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
In the year 1775 while working as a Postmaster General Franklin wanted to make the post office carry out its service more efficiently and above all with less time consumption. Apparently calculated distances between certain postal routes and found that the destination could be reached quicker if shorter routes were taken. Hence he needed an instrument that would actually measure the distance of certain point which are aimed destination and would then record the data. With his results obtained by using the distance measuring device he would calculate which route made him reach his destination with the shortest distance. Hence a device was invented by Benjamin where he had used a mechanism similar to those of the previous odometer inventors.
Benjamin Franklin’s Odometer Description of the device The “Simple Odometer” shown above is a manual analogue odometer with wheels on its surface on which Arabic numerals are present for readings. The odometer is described further “A series of three circles are present on the top of the flat metal plate……….At the center of the central circle is a brass arrow; the one on the left is completely missing and the one on the right is only a flat disk”[6]
Modifications needed for the device From an engineer’s point of view I would say that the odometer that Benjamin Franklin invented has no mileage. Since we all live in a digital world this instrument is the analogue version of the odometer. An analogue instrument seems to have less precision and is also time consuming. Benjamin invented the “Simple Odometer” not “The Odometer” Simple Odometer versus the Odometer The Simple odometer was a device that Benjamin Franklin used when he served as a postmaster general in order to measure postal routes he was assigned the task of mapping mail routes for the local towns. The simple odometer would be fixed on to the carriage and then as the carriage travelled the rotations of the axles of the wagon would be counted by that of the odometer. The odometer on the other hand has been developed over the years and been modified with time.
With the help of the odometer various other instruments have been invented t o facilitate people’s lives. It would be in correct to say that Benjamin Franklin “Simple Odometer” is the predecessor of the following meters such as hubometer, speedometer, surveyor’s wheel, tachograph, tachometer, taximeter, pedometer and the counter. Although the simple odometer is the predecessor of the ‘GPS’ technology as it helps users today reach their destination reaching the shortest route. A present and past view of “The Simple Odometer” Around 23 BC when the concept or the need of the odometer was first introduced people knew it as a device to measure distance a vehicle moves and this is done through a mechanical process uses stones as described above in Vitruvius’ times. We then saw that as industrialization and globalization is a continual process the odometer was also being invented in china by Chang Heng but then in 1763 when Benjamin Franklin was serving as a postmaster general he also invented an odometer whose purpose was to discover the shortest possible routes available. In Franklins time people would call this device which was listed in the inventory of his household made after his death as a "French Weeweiser"[6]. This device was known as the odometer but over the years scientist and engineers gave this invention a quite blunt name hence calling it the “Simple Odometer” The odometer has been adapted by inventors for centuries although Benjamin Franklin helped open a new realm for it. The Odometer at present and future To sum it all up the odometer on the whole is a legendary invention as it took hundreds and thousands of years to be modified. Franklin indeed did not alone invent the odometer but he surely did help in modifying it as it helps us this very day to reach our destination faster by taking the shortest route. The odometer at present is in a digital era and will keep on being modified as still patents are being made for this invention till this very day and so the future of the odometer will not meet an end as it is a need of every transporting medium
Vitruvius. "The Ten Book on Architecture." Main Page - Gutenberg. Harvard University Press, London: Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press. 1914 http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20239/20239-8.txt[page 301].
1.Sleeswyk, André Wegener "Vitruvius' Odometer", Scientific American 245.4 (October, 1981), pp. 188-200 2.Sleeswyk, Andre W. "Vitruvius' Waywiser", Archives internationales d'histoire des sciences Vol. 29 (1979), pp. 11-22 3."A History of Inventions, Discoveries ... -." Google Book Search. 1846 <http://books.google.com/books?id=ebpEAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA5&dq=odometer&as_brr=1>.
The Odometer
Description of the device
The Term “Odometer” was first referred to as the “Hodometer”, this term was derived from the Greek word ‘Hodos’ which means distance and ‘metron’ which means measure according to the greek dictionary [1]
These days the odometer is a useful yet forgettable device in other words this device is basically taken for granted. Cars, planes, ships, all automobiles have this handy gadget as millions know what it displays “Distance”. Hence the definition the odometer is nothing but a distance measuring device.
The odometer is an ancient invention that has been brought down to the millennium as each decade brings a huge technological advancement to the futuristic odometer. Back in the old days when people lived in the analogue world the odometer was a simple instrument consisting of a row of wheels with digits written on them. Before the analogue world the odometer used to be operated with mechanisms consisting of rotations of wheels and counting of pebbles. We are in the digital world hence the odometer had been modified at its best as the present days odometers are made digital with analogue readings i.e. dials or digital odometers with digital readings.
Billions know what the odometer is but only a few know how it works. Although the common problem of the odometer is still not solved till this very day. An odometer could not measure infinite distance, unfortunately it still can’t. Odometers in olden days had limited pebbles for a particular distance to measure the distance even digital odometers cannot read distances beyond 999,999. Although the problem was compensated as engineers suggested starting the odometer to ‘0’, once the odometer reaches 100,000 but this still is not a perfect solution.
Below are images of an ancient odometer and a modern odometer
Need for the Device
According to my research I found out that it was probably after the invention of the wheel that people started thinking “How far will this wheel go?” A very vague yet true image of this is practically the time when chariots and horsemen would travel from countries to countries when maps of the world were in the making all individuals had one question as to how far be they desired place or how far are they going. Astrology, science and physics made one common need for man and that was need of information of distance. Hence the odometer was developed, according to the Encyclopedia Britannia ‘Vitruvius’ was the first individual to actually come up with the idea of a distance measuring device around 15 BC. The idea was in fact brought to reality by ‘Archimedes of Syracuse’ during the First Punic war.
As Misa also explains in his book “Leonardo to the Internet” development in technology has been taking place over the whole place. Meanwhile people from the far-east started growing the need to measure distance, thus ‘Chang Heng’ successfully invented an odometer that had a figure that struck a drum as each 0.5 km went by to measure distance.
Technological advancements became a global phenomena as each nation tried to invent something revolutionary useful. Blaise Pascal built a prototype for the odometer, other Englishmen like the military engineer Thomas Savery also contributed in inventing the odometer which was designed for ships.
Due to industrial revolution and modernization Misa explains that each country was developing modern ways to improve the economy of the country. America soon came out with its own odometer also known as the “Simple Odometer” which was invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1775.
Canada also came up with a device that measured the mileage driven in 1854 as Samuel McKeen was fortunate to have his name in history books as the designer of the early version of the odometer.
We can observe that the interest for building an odometer to fit its purpose has been passed through the globe from Asia to Europe to America. Development of military equipment, time zones, transportation methods the need for a distance measuring device was not a need but a necessity. Locomotion and commuting requires distance covered and in order to know the distance covered we need a device that measures the distance covered, hence the need of the odometer.
The inventors of the Odometer overtime
Vitruvius
According to Vitruvius's book “The Ten Books on Architecture” which was translated by Morris Hicky Morgan, in chapter ten we get an in sight view of the odometer also known as the “The Hodometer”.
In the first part of the chapter Morgan describes the odometer as useful invention as it enables us to measure distances while we are on the move on any automobile, where Vitruvius came up with the idea of having each wheel of a carriage four feet in diameter “so that if a wheel has a mark made upon it,……. half feet on reaching that mark at which it began to revolve” [2]
In the following three paragraphs Vitruvius further talks about the mechanism of the odometer. As the carriage tends to travel a mile a stone rings a bell and is collected in a bronze vessel set underneath the carriage. Thus as the end of the journey one can count all the stones and will know how far they have travelled.
Vitruvius through Morgan clearly explains the significance of the odometer as he further describes how the odometer can be used for various automobiles as he mentions in his extract that the same mechanism is required for the odometer to work on the ships.
In the end Vitruvius quotes “I have described how to make things that may be provided for use and amusement in times that are peaceful and without fear” [2]
Chang Heng
The people of China believed that Zhang Heng of the Han Dynasty invented the first odometer. The distance measuring device was commonly used by the Romans and Han-Chinese empires at about 78- 139 AD
According to sources like Wikipedia the odometer was also known as the “jì lĭ gŭ chē' (記里鼓車)”.
According to the Stone and Webster journal Zhang Heng’s invention was later on known as a “Measure Mile Drum Chariot”. The function of the drum chariot is mentioned in the lines “ It has a single pole and two wheels. On the body of the chariot………………would be more correct from the mechanical point of view.” [3]
Although the mechanism described in the text above is somewhat similar to the mechanism that Vitruvius also introduced in order for the odometer to function.
Thomas Savery
Thomas Savery was an Englishman and served as a military engineer. Industrial revolution was growing everywhere and he also believed in inventing a priceless invention for his countries. His work as an engineer involved a lot of development in ship building as he successful in building modifications to steam engines. Over time Thomas Savery was successful in inventing an odometer used in ships but the invention was merely unique it was rather a modification to Vitruvius’s idea of an odometer for ships as discussed above.
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was known for inventing the odometer also known as “Simple Odometer” which was used to measure postal routes. Benjamin was known for his multiple inventions like bifocals, a glas harmonica, lightning rod, a wood stove and an odometer. It was in 1775 when he was serving as a Postmaster General, he came up with the idea that the post office could save time if they knew the shortest possible routes to their required destination hence the job is done better and faster.
Samuel McKeen
Misa describes in his book “Leonardo to the Internet” that globalization was rapidly taking its course and so was industrial revolution as each continent felt that technological advancement was a competition. China, Europe and America were building odometer and then Canada brought out its own odometer in 1854 through Samuel McKeen of Nova Scotia.
Some people believe that “The odometer is invented by Samuel McKeen in Canada” [4] as stated in the book Technology and Society
His invention basically helped the car industry as the odometer was designed to measure distance cars travelled.
Benjamin Franklin’s inventions and scientific approach
Inventions of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was an outstanding inventor. He was known for invention lightning rod, the glass harmonica, the Franklin stove, bifocal glasses, flexible urinary catheter and the odometer. Franklin never patented his inventions as he once stated in his autobiography "... as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously."[5]
Benjamin Franklin made a lot of contributions to the people of America through his knowledge and inventions. The American Philosophical Society was founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743. Benjamin’s main idea of this society was to merge ideas of other scientists and engineers that are out there and theories and discoveries would be discussed and researched on.
Benjamin Franklin’s scientific approach of the odometer
In the year 1775 while working as a Postmaster General Franklin wanted to make the post office carry out its service more efficiently and above all with less time consumption. Apparently calculated distances between certain postal routes and found that the destination could be reached quicker if shorter routes were taken. Hence he needed an instrument that would actually measure the distance of certain point which are aimed destination and would then record the data. With his results obtained by using the distance measuring device he would calculate which route made him reach his destination with the shortest distance. Hence a device was invented by Benjamin where he had used a mechanism similar to those of the previous odometer inventors.
Benjamin Franklin’s Odometer
Description of the device
The “Simple Odometer” shown above is a manual analogue odometer with wheels on its surface on which Arabic numerals are present for readings. The odometer is described further “A series of three circles are present on the top of the flat metal plate……….At the center of the central circle is a brass arrow; the one on the left is completely missing and the one on the right is only a flat disk” [6]
Modifications needed for the device
From an engineer’s point of view I would say that the odometer that Benjamin Franklin invented has no mileage. Since we all live in a digital world this instrument is the analogue version of the odometer. An analogue instrument seems to have less precision and is also time consuming.
Benjamin invented the “Simple Odometer” not “The Odometer”
Simple Odometer versus the Odometer
The Simple odometer was a device that Benjamin Franklin used when he served as a postmaster general in order to measure postal routes he was assigned the task of mapping mail routes for the local towns. The simple odometer would be fixed on to the carriage and then as the carriage travelled the rotations of the axles of the wagon would be counted by that of the odometer. The odometer on the other hand has been developed over the years and been modified with time.
With the help of the odometer various other instruments have been invented t o facilitate people’s lives. It would be in correct to say that Benjamin Franklin “Simple Odometer”
is the predecessor of the following meters such as hubometer, speedometer, surveyor’s wheel, tachograph, tachometer, taximeter, pedometer and the counter. Although the simple odometer is the predecessor of the ‘GPS’ technology as it helps users today reach their destination reaching the shortest route.
A present and past view of “The Simple Odometer”
Around 23 BC when the concept or the need of the odometer was first introduced people knew it as a device to measure distance a vehicle moves and this is done through a mechanical process uses stones as described above in Vitruvius’ times. We then saw that as industrialization and globalization is a continual process the odometer was also being invented in china by Chang Heng but then in 1763 when Benjamin Franklin was serving as a postmaster general he also invented an odometer whose purpose was to discover the shortest possible routes available. In Franklins time people would call this device which was listed in the inventory of his household made after his death as a "French Weeweiser"[6]. This device was known as the odometer but over the years scientist and engineers gave this invention a quite blunt name hence calling it the “Simple Odometer”
The odometer has been adapted by inventors for centuries although Benjamin
Franklin helped open a new realm for it.
The Odometer at present and future
To sum it all up the odometer on the whole is a legendary invention as it took hundreds and thousands of years to be modified. Franklin indeed did not alone invent the odometer but he surely did help in modifying it as it helps us this very day to reach our destination faster by taking the shortest route. The odometer at present is in a digital era and will keep on being modified as still patents are being made for this invention till this very day and so the future of the odometer will not meet an end as it is a need of every transporting medium
Foot Notes
- http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/3358.htm
- Vitruvius. "The Ten Book on Architecture." Main Page - Gutenberg. Harvard University Press, London: Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press. 1914 http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20239/20239-8.txt[page 301].
- "Stone & Webster Journal -." Google Book Search. 1921 <http://books.google.com/books?id=AeYoAAAAYAAJ>.[page 336-339]
- Harrington, Jan. "Technology and Society." Published by Jones & Bartlett Publishers. 2008. Page 25
- Franklin, Benjamin, and Albert Henry Smyth. "The autobiography of Benjamin Franklin." Harvard University. 1907. ] page 199
- Odometer -." The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary. Franklin and Marsshal College. <http://www.benfranklin300.org/frankliniana/result.php?id=170&sec=1>.
References1. Sleeswyk, André Wegener "Vitruvius' Odometer", Scientific American 245.4 (October, 1981), pp. 188-200
2. Sleeswyk, Andre W. "Vitruvius' Waywiser", Archives internationales d'histoire des sciences Vol. 29 (1979), pp. 11-22
3. "A History of Inventions, Discoveries ... -." Google Book Search. 1846 <http://books.google.com/books?id=ebpEAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA5&dq=odometer&as_brr=1>.